Fearful use is related to a phenomenon referred to in the literature as ‘‘general computer anxiety” (Brown et al., 2004). Such anxiety has been widely studied (e.g., Brown et al., 2004; Compeau et al., 1999; Venkatesh and Morris, 2000; Venkatesh et al., 2003). Fearful use is often induced by the users’ need to comply and fit in with their work group or peer group (Maslow, 1954; Winter, 1996) while being  insufficiently trained (Walsh et al., 2010) (‘‘Everybody around me uses these tools. I am keen to use them, but I am always afraid of making mistakes. . .there are so many things that I still have to learn about it”: CFO in an SME).
FEARUSE1 When I use IT, I am always afraid of making mistakes
FEARUSE2 When I use a computer, I am always afraid to hit the wrong key and lose all my data
FEARUSE3 When I use a computer, there is always a moment when I panic because I have done something that I should not have